Seaweed farms help both people and ocean animals in amazing ways!

Sustainable Food for People

We can eat many types of seaweed! It’s full of vitamins and is used in foods like sushi. Some farms are made just for growing seaweed that’s safe and healthy for us to eat.

A bowl of seaweed salad with sesame seeds sprinkled on top. The seaweed is bright green and looks fresh and tasty. The bowl is made of wood.

Since seaweed grows in the ocean, it doesn’t need soil, fertilizers, or any additional water! This makes it a sustainable way to produce food.

Food and Shelter for Ocean Animals

Seaweed farms are like underwater forests! Fish, crabs, and other creatures love to hide and live among the seaweed. It gives them a safe place to eat, lay eggs, and stay away from predators.

An underwater scene with tall, wavy seaweed and big fish swimming around. The seaweed provides a safe place for the fish to hide. Sunlight shines through the water, making it look peaceful.
“Ocean Life Kelp Forest” by moonjazz is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Cleaning the Ocean

Seaweed acts like a sponge, soaking up extra nutrients and carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the water. This helps keep the ocean clean and fights climate change. In some cases, farms are set up just to help clean-up the water!

A drawing of seaweed growing underwater with a cloud above labeled "CO₂" and an arrow pointing down to the seaweed. This shows how seaweed helps clean the water by soaking up excess carbon dioxide.